Study: Kids Are Germ Factories. Gee, Thanks for the Hint

A new study suggests that Flu strikes communities with children sooner and harder than it does others. In other words, kids propagate germs faster.

Thanks . . . for stating the obvious. I wonder how much money went into this stupid research. Any parent is already well aware of that fact - no scientists or grants required.

I have a 16 month old. Every day as I pick her up from daycare, I see how she is exposed to all kinds of nasty germs. Often times, I watch her play with other children as they sneeze on each other's faces. They think it's funny; I can see the look of delight in their faces. They then proceed to rub their snot-filled noses and wipe their hands on all the toys. I am especially delighted when I observe them wipe not only their own noses, but each other's. That's just a fantastic view into humanities sharing is caring adage.

Once we get home and walk in the house, the dogs commence a licking routine of her face (and mine) that lasts about 5 minutes. Even if I command the dogs to stop (and they would), she walks toward them, puts her face next to their, and performs her own rendition of face licking of the dogs. After another 5 minutes of this germ-fest celebration, I thoroughly wash her hands and face. It is now time to eat.

She hates being confined to a high chair. She likes to eat while playing. I put some food out for her, and she feeds herself as she plays. I watch her as she picks up a piece of food - rubs it on the kitchen floor, licks it, offers it to the dogs, they lick it, puts it on the floor, smashes it by putting her dirty feet on it, etc. . . . you get the picture - and puts it in her mouth. The food that she doesn't like promptly comes out of her mouth and gets thrown on the floor where it is swiftly devoured by the ever-alert doggy patrol with a mandate to clean the kitchen floor to a sparkle. After 30 minutes of eating, playing and sharing food with the dogs, it is time to feed the dogs.

She picks up one piece of dog food, examines it, licks it, and throws it on the floor for the dogs. Then she picks up another piece of dog food and puts it in her own mouth. One for doggies and one for her. Even at 16-months, she knows the value of sharing. A prouder parent I could not be! Most of the time, I am able to intercept the food destined for her mouth, but she's a sneaky little devil. This routine lasts for another 20 minutes.

All of that was a mere 1 hour in the life of my kid. Germ factories? Yeah, tell me something I don't already know.